South Africa: State Opposes Bail for AKA, Tibz Murder Accused in Durban Court

In a high-profile case, the State has declared its intention to oppose bail for the seven men accused of murdering renowned rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, reports News24.

AKA and Motsoane were fatally shot outside the now-defunct Wish on Florida restaurant in Durban on February 10, 2023.

Five of the accused, including Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Myeza, and Lindokuhle Ndimande, face charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder, to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Senior State advocate Lawrence Gcaba disclosed that the other two suspects were apprehended in Eswatini and efforts are underway to extradite them to South Africa.

The accused have been charged with a Schedule 6 offense, which means that the onus is on the accused to prove that there are exceptional circumstances that warrant their release on bail. AKA’s father, Tony Forbes, Police Minister Bheki Cele, and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi were present in the packed court gallery.

Forbes expressed his disappointment at the court’s initial decision to allow the five men accused of his son’s murder to wear masks, shielding their faces from the public. Following his vocal dissatisfaction, the court reconsidered, ruling that no security concerns were justifying the concealment, and subsequently ordered the suspects to reveal their faces.

The case has been postponed to Wednesday, 6 March, for further investigations.

By Melody Chironda